Oberammergau? Book Now!

Bavarian village produces Passion Play every 10 years. Hurry to attend in 2010

Half a million people make a religious or theatrical pilgrimage to the Bavarian village of Oberammergau every 10 years to witness the spectacle of the renowned Passion Play that has been put once a decade for 375 years. It is an astonishing feat for a mountain hamlet of 5,200 inhabitants to put on a five-hour spectacle depicting the last days of Jesus. Nearly half of the residents are involved in some way -- on the open-air stage, in the orchestra or behind the scenes.

Something like 100 performances will be put on next year between May 15 and October 3, and if you want to attend, book now. I mean now. Yesterday, I met Mike Adams, managing director of Germany TourComm, who said that individual tickets are already sold out and that if the world economy were stronger, tickets in conjunction with tour operator-based packages would most likely be gone by now too. But the economy is weak, and tickets are still available in conjunction with a lodging package that can be as short as one night. Click here for US tour operators booking one- and two-night Passion Play packages. The Passion Play website also links to tour operators in other countries.

The Passion Play was first performed in the town cemetery in 1634. The story never changes, but the precise words, the music, the sets, the costumes and even the supporting roles have evolved over the centuries. The photo (above right) by Thomas Dashuber shows a rehearsal of the 2010 production. Thanks to Passion Play Oberammergau for its use.